Chris Lombardi puts defense and security under the spotlight, as he shares his takes on recent NATO and EU cooperation and provides insight into the company’s own long-term strategic partnerships in Europe.

Three trends are currently driving the global electricity sector: decarbonization, decentralization and differentiation. Utilities are making significant contributions to mitigate carbon emissions, while a technology revolution is …

Ministerial schedule

Over the coming month, national ministers for European or foreign affairs will meet at least three times to prepare the next summit of European Union leaders, which is scheduled for 28-29 June, and to advance discussions on the EU’s multiannual financial framework.

Their first meeting will be next Tuesday (29 May). That will be followed by an informal get-together in Horsens, Denmark, on 10-11 June.

Janusz Lewandowski, the European commissioner for financial programming and budget, and Maroš Šefcovic, the commissioner for inter-institutional relations and administration, both plan to attend the informal meeting.

The ministers will meet again on 26 June, in Luxembourg, to finalise the agenda of the 28-29 June European Council and to take any decisions on economic policy that require the endorsement of national leaders.

“The important discussion will be in June” rather than at next week’s ministerial meeting, a diplomat said, pointing to parliamentary elections in France (10 and 17 June) and Greece (17 June). Tuesday’s meeting will be the first to be attended by Bernard Cazeneuve, France’s new Europe minister.